Britain To Get Cyber Defence Centre

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We’ve reported on the upgrades to the cybersecurity of Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent, but the United Kingdom is stepping up its game in cyber-defence in more areas than this. Britain is to set up a new cybersecurity centre intended to protect the computer systems and networks of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) from “malicious actors.”

“Britain is a world leader in cyber security but with growing threats this new operations center will ensure that our armed forces continue to operate securely,” said Secretary for Defence Michael Fallon. “Our increasing defence budget means that we can stay ahead of our adversaries in cyberspace while also investing in conventional capabilities.”

The new Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) will be employing advanced cyber-defence and cybersecurity capabilities to guard the MoD’s cyberspace. More than £40m ($56.5m) will be spent to develop and set up CSOC at an MoD complex in Corsham, Wiltshire.

The move is part of a larger strategic overhaul of the UK’s cyber-defences, the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) that is expected to cost the government £1.9bn ($2.68bn) over the next five years.

The UK is a world leader in cyber offensive capabilities, according to Fallon, and was one of the first countries in the world to confirm it possesses such capabilities. Nevertheless, unless advances are made, even a world leader could be vulnerable to attack, he went on to say.

“This will act to further strengthen our defences and enable the most efficient working,” reads the MoD’s statement on the matter.

It has not yet been revealed who will be building the CSOC centre, nor when is work expected to be completed.